Ionospheric path delay models for spaceborne GPS receivers flying in formation with large baselines

GPS relative navigation filters could benefit notably from an accurate modeling of the ionospheric delays, especially over large baselines (>100 km) where double difference delays can be higher than several carrier wavelengths. This paper analyzes the capability of ionospheric path delay models proposed for spaceborne GPS receivers in predicting both zero-difference and double difference ionospheric delays. We specifically refer to relatively simple ionospheric models, which are suitable for real-time filtering schemes. Specifically, two ionospheric delay models are evaluated, one assuming an isotropic electron density and the other considering the effect on the electron density of the Sun aspect angle. The prediction capability of these models is investigated by comparing predicted ionospheric delays with measured ones on real flight data from the Gravity Recovery and Climate Experiment mission, in which two satellites fly separated of more than 200 km. Results demonstrate that both models exhibit a correlation in the excess of 80% between predicted and measured double-difference ionospheric delays. Despite its higher simplicity, the isotropic model performs better than the model including the Sun effect, being able to predict double differenced delays with accuracy smaller than the carrier wavelength in most cases. The model is thus fit for supporting integer ambiguity fixing in real-time filters for relative navigation over large baselines. Concerning zero-difference ionospheric delays, results demonstrate that delays predicted by the isotropic model are highly correlated (around 90%) with those estimated using GPS measurements. However, the difference between predicted and measured delays has a root mean square error in the excess of 30 cm. Thus, the zero-difference ionospheric delays model is not likely to be an alternative to methods exploiting carrier-phase observables for cancelling out the ionosphere contribution in single-frequency absolute navigation filters.     

Large geomagnetic storms of extreme solar event periods in solar cycle 23

During extreme solar events such as big flares or/and energetic coronal mass ejections (CMEs) high energy particles are accelerated by the shocks formed in front of fast interplanetary coronal mass ejections (ICMEs). The ICMEs (and their sheaths) also give rise to large geomagnetic storms which have significant effects on the Earth’s environment and human life. Around 14 solar cosmic ray ground level enhancement (GLE) events in solar cycle 23 we examined the cosmic ray variation, solar wind speed, ions density, interplanetary magnetic field, and geomagnetic disturbance storm time index (D_st). We found that all but one of GLEs are always followed by a geomagnetic storm with D_st  −50 nT within 1–5 days later. Most(10/14) geomagnetic storms have D_st index  −100  nT therefore generally belong to strong geomagnetic storms. This suggests that GLE event prediction of geomagnetic storms is 93% for moderate storms and 71% for large storms when geomagnetic storms preceded by GLEs. All D_st depressions are associated with cosmic ray decreases which occur nearly simultaneously with geomagnetic storms. We also investigated the interplanetary plasma features. Most geomagnetic storm correspond significant periods of southward B_z and in close to 80% of the cases that the B_z was first northward then turning southward after storm sudden commencement (SSC). Plasma flow speed, ion number density and interplanetary plasma temperature near 1 AU also have a peak at interplanetary shock arrival. Solar cause and energetic particle signatures of large geomagnetic storms and a possible prediction scheme are discussed.     

How Navigational Aids Impair Spatial Memory: Evidence for Divided Attention

Abstract

Research has demonstrated navigational aids impair spatial memory, but has not considered important spatial cognitive concepts. For example, impairment may stem from spatial perspective switches between route-based aids and survey-based memory assessments. Further, the verbal format of aid instructions may selectively interfere with verbal working memory (VWM). To address these potential explanations, participants navigated desktop virtual environments in a goal-directed manner. In each within-participants condition, participants either navigated with a verbal or tonal aid that presented mixed spatial perspective instructions or without aid. Both aids yielded slight navigational advantages and steep spatial memory costs despite their mixed perspective instructions. The equivalent impairment between information formats suggests navigational aids impair spatial memory by dividing attention rather than selective interference of VWM.     

基于多模PPP-AR技术的大气水汽探测性能分析

精密单点定位（precise point positioning，PPP）反演大气可降水量（precipitable water vapor，PWV）具有精度高、实时性强等优点，能够在灾害监测、降雨预报及探测降水信息等方面发挥重要作用。为评估整周模糊度固定模式下PPP-AR（PPP ambiguity resolution）反演PWV的性能，选取全球范围16个MGEX站2022年4个时段的观测数据，采用最终精密星历解算，设置不同星座组合（GPS,BDS-3,GPS+BDS-3,GPS+GLO+GAL+BDS-3）获取对流层延迟（zenith total delay，ZTD）估值，并转换为PWV。从PPP-ZTD与IGS-ZTD的相关性、PPP-ZTD收敛时间、ZTD估值精度和PPP-PWV估值精度4个方面评价多模PPP-AR探测水汽的性能。结果表明，与单（G、C）、双系统（GC）固定解相比，多系统（GREC）固定解获取ZTD估值更加精确，相关系数更高。相较于单、双系统，多系统具有更快的收敛速度，收敛时间分别缩短了27%,25%和20%，多系统固定解与浮点解相比收敛时间缩短11%。此外，对GNSS PPP反演的PWV与探空站PWV（RS-PWV）进行对比，结果表明，WUH2站与HOB2站单、双、多系统固定解、多系统浮点解（float-GREC）的平均均方根误差分别为6.40 mm,6.48 mm,6.19 mm,6.17 mm,6.19 mm和5.82 mm,5.77 mm,5.72 mm,5.62 mm,5.70 mm。多模下得到的PWV估值精度最高，可为高精度的水汽反演提供支持。     

Qualitative Spatial Reasoning for Topological Map Learning

Abstract

In this paper we investigate the application of qualitative spatial reasoning methods for learning the topological map of an unknown environment. We develop a topological mapping framework that achieves robustness against ambiguity in the available information by tracking all possible graph hypotheses simultaneously. We then exploit spatial reasoning to reduce the space of possible hypotheses. The considered constraints are qualitative direction information and the assumption that the map is planar. We investigate the effects of absolute and relative direction information using two different spatial calculi and combine the approach with a real mapping system based on Voronoi graphs.     

捷联姿态解算宏汇编软件

编制捷联姿态解算软件是捷联惯性姿态参考系统研制中的重要一环。由于对计算的实时性和精度都有较高的要求，又在专用的弹上计算机上进行，所以增加了制作的难度。从变量取值范围、比例因子确定、字长选择、程序结构等几方面介绍了捷联姿态解算软件的编制情况。该软件是在导弹计算机上用ＴＭＳ３２０Ｃ２５宏汇编语言编制的。该软件经过地面实物试验，验证了其正确性。     

陀螺RRW在惯导系统中的误差传播特性

角速率随机游走是高精度光纤陀螺的一项主要随机误差源,对惯性导航系统的误差有着较大影响。分析了角速率随机游走的统计特性,推导了角速率随机游走引起的惯性导航系统姿态、位置误差的解析表达式,研究了静基座环境下的惯性导航系统在长时间导航环境下的随机误差传播规律,对角速率随机游走作用下的惯性导航系统误差进行了仿真与实验,验证了所推导公式的正确性,对惯性导航系统的设计与误差分析具有一定的参考意义。     

基于交互式多模型的飞机编队相对导航算法研究

在飞机编队飞行时,成员间的相对位置信息是实现系统协同作战的重要保证,为了提高机群编队飞行的相对导航定位精度,在无地面基准的机群编队飞行JTIDS/GPS/TACAN/IFDL组合的相对导航系统中,采用交互式多模型扩展卡尔曼滤波(IMM-EKF)算法,设计实现了多传感器相对导航系统,克服了飞机动态模型参数变化导致使用单一动态模型滤波精度下降的问题。仿真分析结果表明,交互式多模型算法可以提高相对导航系统的定位精度和可靠性,特别在GPS可见卫星很少的情况下,依然能够具有良好的定位性能。     

载体角运动对旋转捷联惯导误差的影响分析

旋转捷联惯导系统采用旋转调制误差补偿技术对陀螺仪和加速度计误差进行调制,可以提高系统导航精度。在简要分析旋转调制误差补偿机理基础上,研究了单轴旋转方案中载体常值旋转和周期旋转2种角运动模式对导航误差的影响。结果表明：载体特定角运动对旋转捷联惯导的误差补偿效果有一定影响,且单轴正反转停方案中误差补偿效果所受影响相对较小。